Latch



Aug. 23, 1932. A EKMAN 1,873,560

LATCH Filed Aug. 22. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ndeaf E/mm BYATTORNl-:lgVP

Allg.' 23, 1932. A EKMAN 1,873,560

LATCH Filed Aug. 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR o d/zcreaf Xi/nanATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 23, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ANDREW IEKMAN, OF GRANDRAPIDS, MICHIGAN LATCH Application led August 22, 1931. Serial No.558,655.

The main objects of my invention are: First, to provide an improvedlatch for cabinet doors, such as refrigerators and the like, which is,with the exception of the handle, substantially flush with the exteriorof the door.

Second, to provide a latch of this type that is economical tomanufacture, extremely neat in appearance, and effective in operation.

Third, to provide a door latch which automatically locks itself inretracted position upon grasping the handle to operatev door andautomatically releases to project the bolt when the door is closed. y

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims. y

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my' invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet having` a latchembodying my invention.

T5 F ig. 2 is an enlarged front view of my improved latch with thehandle omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end View looking from the right of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View partially in horizontal sectionthrough the cabinet illustrating the arrangement or mounting of myimproved latch therein.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View partially in longitudinal section on line 55 of Fig. 2

with the bolt in projected position.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 with the bolt in retractedposition, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7--7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 represents a cabinet the cabinetillustrated being a refrigerator cabinet. The front wall 2 of thiscabinet is provided with a door opening 3, the door or closure 4 beinghinged at 5.

The door has a recess 6 therein adapted to receive the latch, and a doorcasing or frame has a keeper recess 7 registering with the latch recess.The latch, designated generally by the numeral 9, is provided with anoperating handle 10, the latch being mounted in the recess 6 forcoaction with the keeper 11 mounted infthe recess 7 so that theoperating handle 10 is substantially the only exposed part.

The latch casing comprises a U-shaped element or member 12 havingrearwardly projecting arm portions 13 and outwardly projecting lugs 14.The web portion 16 of this member has a lip-like stop 15 at its forwarden A second frame member 17 of U- or channel shape is disposed betweenthe sides of the member 12 and is provided with outwardly extendingflanges 19 having counter-sunk holes 20 therein to receive attachingscrews. r1`he member 12 has outwardly turned flanges disposed in lappingrelation relative to the flanges of the member 17 so that when the partsare mounted on the door they are secured in definite relation to eachother. How- Y fever, a further securing means is provided way 25 inwhich is disposed the reciprocating Vbolt 26. The bolt 26 is providedwith a keeper engaging roller 27 at its outer en d and with a supportingroller 28 on which 1t is pivoted at 29 intermediate its ends, so thatthe bolt may reciprocate, and also is support? ed for tiltingorvswinging movement. The roller travels in the Way coacting with thestop 15 to limit the forward or projecting movement of the bolt. Theoperating lever 30 is pivoted between the lugs 14 by means of the pin 31and is pivotally connected to v the inner end of the bolt by the pivot34. The

handle 10 is secured to the lever, so'that it is mounted on the thrustmember in sup- )o1-tin"engagement with the )in 37 the inner l n :s Y aend ot" the spring being in supporting enga gement with the shoulders 36on the thrust or toggle member 33.

- This thrust or toggle member 33 engages the lever at such a pointrelative to the lever pivot and its connection with the bolt as toprovide a. locking toggle as shown in Fig. G. This locking toggle may bebroken by the roller 27 coming into engagement with the tappet 44 on thekeeper ll. This keeper has a tappet 44 projecting beyond the keeper jaw45, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, so that the door may be swung closed,bringing the bolt into engagement with the tappet, swinging the bolt onits pivot thereby breaking the toggle and allowing the spring 38 toproject the olt.

On the grasping of the handle 10 to open the door, an outward pull ordoor opening movement'results in first retracting the bolt and lockingit in retracted position and continued pull opens the door. -To engagethe bolt, it is only necessary to swing the door to closed position. Thedevice would be effec'tive if the keeper did not have the tappet 44, asan inward push on the handle 10 after the door had reached closedposition would result -in the breaking of the toggle and the projectionof the bolt.

In practice, the casing and keeper are preferably mounted prior to theplacing of the outer finishing panels 49 and 50 of the door and ca ingso that the latch and keeper are entirely enclosed in them and thehandle portion of the latch which does not seriously disigure the same.

I thus provide a structure that is very neat in appearance. It isunnecessary to finish parts of the latch other than the handle and thereis al minimum of projecting parts.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI consider highly desirable. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe various adaptations and embodiments which I contemplate, as

it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the artto embody or adapt my improvements as 'may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

` 1. In a latch, the combination of a casing having a bolt way, a boltprovided with a supporting roller traveling 1n said way, said bolt beingpivotally mounted on said roller at a point intermediate its ends topermit tilting movement of the bolt on the roller, a lever pivotallymounted in said casing and pivotally connected to the inner end of thebolt, a thrust member pivotally and slidably supported on said casing atits outer end and engaging said lever at a point intermediate itssupporting pivot and its connection to said bolt, a spring on saidthrust member imparting a thrust thereto, said thrust member coactingwith said lever to provide a locking toggle for holding said bolt inretracted position and acting to project said bolt when the toggle isbroken.

2. In a latch, the combination of a casing having a bolt way, a boltprovided with a supporting roller traveling in said way, said bolt beingpivotally mounted on said roller at a point intermediate its ends topermit tilting movement of the bolt on the roller, said way having astop coacting with said roller limiting the forward movement of thebolt, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connectedto the inner end of the bolt, a thrust member pivotally and slidablysupported on said casing at its outer end and engaging said lever at apoint intermediate its supporting pivot and its connection to said bolt,said .lever and thrust member being notched to provide co-engagingparts,a spring on said thrust member imparting a thrust thereto, said thrustmember coacting with said lever to provide a locking toggle for holdingsaid bolt in retracted position and acting to project said bolt when thetogand its connection to said bolt, and a spring acting on said thrustmember, said thrust member coacting with said lever to provide a lockingtoggle for holding said bolt in retracted position and acting to projectsaid bolt when the toggle is broken.

4. In a latch, the combination, a sliding bolt supported intermediateits ends for limited tilting movement, a pivotally mounted actuatinglever connected to the inner end of said bolt, a bolt actuating spring,and a locking toggle element operatively associated with said spring tobe actuated thereby and with said lever for holding the bolt inretracted position.

5. In a latch the combination with means having a reciprocating-boltway, of a roller disposed in said way, a bolt pivoted to said roller,means limiting the movement of said bolt, means for rocking said boltabout said 'roller pivot as it is recprocated, and toggle meansincluding a spring and said way or locking said bolt in its retractedPosition 'when fully retracted and for releasing said bolt from saidposition u on the reverse rocking of said bolt about said roller pivoteIn witness whereof T. have hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW EN.

